Planning for Large Tank in the future

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I am in the process of planning a large tank that I will be doing over the next few years. Hopefully the finished product ...

I am in the process of planning a large tank that I will be doing over the next few years. Hopefully the finished product will take no longer than five years (This is due to living arrangements. Water and actual fish will not be added until stable living arrangements are made. And seeing as how it will take me a couple more years to get my master's it will be a little while haha)

In any case, the tank will be no less than 100g. And the max will be 200g. Yes I know there is quite a bit of difference there, so for now we shall say it will be 180g 72x24x24. I'm looking for information regarding certain global areas for fish (oriental) and what plants would be good with them(live). I've been looking around websites all day and cannot find one that is specific for what I want. So then here would be the general info:

Tank Size: 180g 72x24x24
Water: Freshwater, conditions in which fish may be put together
Substrate: ?
Plants: Live, but unsure of which ones
Fish: Oriental, but unsure of which ones (Definitely want tiger barbs in the mix)
Breeding: Not interested in breeding

My questions are;
Which fish (native to oriental places) would be good together?
Which live plants would be good for a tank with those fish?
Which substrate should be used?

No gourami with barbs or danios. Aside from the nipping of Tiger Barb (likely), the activity level of all barbs is contrary to sedate fish like gourami. I believe this is mentioned in the various profiles, may have to check.

The Chinese Algae Eater I would never acaquire. I think the profile explains why. This is one of those fish that should not even be offered for sale.

In a large tank like that being planned, I would suggest a different loach species, one of the Botia species that get a bit larger and will suit the tank space better. I have a group of Yunnanilus cruciatus and they would be lost in a large tank. Also, with a Rainbow Shark, the more robust Botia are much better. The clown loach (now in the Chromobotia genus) would work in your 6-7 foot tank, but there are several lovely species in Botia.

No gourami with barbs or danios. Aside from the nipping of Tiger Barb (likely), the activity level of all barbs is contrary to sedate fish like gourami. I believe this is mentioned in the various profiles, may have to check.

The Chinese Algae Eater I would never acaquire. I think the profile explains why. This is one of those fish that should not even be offered for sale.

In a large tank like that being planned, I would suggest a different loach species, one of the Botia species that get a bit larger and will suit the tank space better. I have a group of Yunnanilus cruciatus and they would be lost in a large tank. Also, with a Rainbow Shark, the more robust Botia are much better. The clown loach (now in the Chromobotia genus) would work in your 6-7 foot tank, but there are several lovely species in Botia.

Byron.

Awww. I'll have to do a separate gourami tank then (: I've never had a tank this size before, so I was unsure on sizes of the fish. What type of stocking am I looking at with these fish and plants? Under/over?

Awww. I'll have to do a separate gourami tank then (: I've never had a tank this size before, so I was unsure on sizes of the fish. What type of stocking am I looking at with these fish and plants? Under/over?

As you will have the space, i would increase the Tigers, 12 is better and more likely to confine their feistiness to the group without issues to each other. Or if you want a Tiger-like fish without the risk, there is the beautiful Black Ruby Barb.

As you will have the space, i would increase the Tigers, 12 is better and more likely to confine their feistiness to the group without issues to each other. Or if you want a Tiger-like fish without the risk, there is the beautiful Black Ruby Barb.

The Black Ruby Barbs are beautiful, but their profile says that they like acidic water. I have no problem increasing the number of Tigers. I love Tiger Barbs

Don't focus too much on your tap water pH, almost all municipal tap water pH is higher than 7.

Do you know your KH? pH will lower over time unless your KH is really high. I'm in a region with very soft water, so while the pH from the tap is 7.6 it is now down to 6.4 in my tanks and likely will go down even further. That's fine because I keep soft acidic water fish.

The snails though will need basic water, as acidic water will erode their shells.

Don't focus too much on your tap water pH, almost all municipal tap water pH is higher than 7.

Do you know your KH? pH will lower over time unless your KH is really high. I'm in a region with very soft water, so while the pH from the tap is 7.6 it is now down to 6.4 in my tanks and likely will go down even further. That's fine because I keep soft acidic water fish.

The snails though will need basic water, as acidic water will erode their shells.

The water parameters I picked are based on the conditions with all of the fish on the list in mind. A lot of them have a decent range. I also kept in mind the parameters for the plants.

I'm not sure of our KH here, but this tank will be in a different area.

Right now I am also in a region with soft water. The pH in the tap is 8.0, the tank HAD a 6.8-7.0, but now it has(well had until I changed it) 6.4. I had to change it for my snail.